English laurel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cherry laurel
• Cherry-laurel
• Common Laurel
• English Laurel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Prunus laurocerasus var. latifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. microphylla
• Cerasus laurocerasus var. colchica
• Prunus laurocerasus mischeana
• Prunus laurocerasus var. porpaczyi
• Prunus laurocerasus var. serbica
• Prunus laurocerasus var. rotundifolia
• Cerasus laurocerasus parvifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. rotundifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. salicifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. schipkaensis
• Cerasus laurocerasus subvar. rotundifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. schipkaensis
• Padus laurocerasus
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. serbica
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. zabeliana
• Prunus laurocerasus var. zabeliana
• Prunus laurocerasus f. zabeliana
• Prunus laurocerasus f. variegata
• Prunus laurocerasus var. brachystachyus
• Lauro-cerasus vulgaris
• Lauro-cerasus vulgaris angustifolia
• Lauro-cerasus vulgaris longifolia
• Lauro-cerasus vulgaris rotundifolia
• Lauro-cerasus macrophylla
• Cerasus laurocerasus var. pumilio
• Cerasus laurocerasus
• Cerasus laurocerasus var. angustifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. angustifolia
• Cerasus laurocerasus f. angustifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. angustifolia
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. zabeliana
• Prunus laurocerasus var. bertinii
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. angustifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. camelliifolia
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis var. brachystachys
• Prunus laurocerasus f. camelliifolia
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. camelliifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. caucasica
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. caucasica
• Prunus laurocerasus f. caucasica
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. colchica
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. magnoliifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. colchica
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. mischeana
• Prunus laurocerasus var. compacta
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. parvifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. compacta
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis var. schipkaensis
• Prunus laurocerasus fiesserana
• Lauro-cerasus officinalis f. schipkaensis
• Prunus laurocerasus f. fiesseriana
• Prunus laurocerasus var. japonica
• Lauro-cerasus otinii
• Prunus laurocerasus f. latifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. laurifolius
• Prunus laurocerasus var. longifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus var. magnoliifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. magnoliifolia
• Cerasus laurocerasus var. caucasica
• Prunus laurocerasus var. microphylla
• Prunus laurocerasus f. otinii
• Prunus laurocerasus var. otinii
• Cerasus laurocerasus var. laurifolius
• Prunus laurocerasus var. parvifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. parvifolia
• Prunus laurocerasus f. serbica
• Prunus laurocerasus var. variegata
• Prunus laurocerasus zabeliana
• Prunus grandifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Prunus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, it can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, its distribution includes countries such as Austria and Belgium. This diverse range highlights the plant's ability to adapt to different European climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prunus laocecerasus is characterized by its adaptability to various environmental conditions, primarily thriving in lowland habitats. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, typically occupying lower elevations but demonstrating a significant capacity to ascend into mountainous terrains. Its vertical distribution reaches an upper limit of approximately 2400 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit diverse ecological niches ranging from temperate valleys to higher-altitude montane zones.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Prunus laurocerasus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence in its habitat. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, facilitating a robust structural growth pattern. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic activity regardless of seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus laurocerasus is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, exhibiting a self-supporting growth habit. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, functioning as a non-parasitic organism. In terms of dimension, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 4 m, though it has the capacity to attain a maximum height of up to 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus laocecerasus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. Its foliar architecture shows significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. The average leaf dimensions reflect a mean width of 4 cm and a mean surface area of approximately 58.63875 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 69.25 cm²/g, a metric that indicates the efficiency of its leaf structure in balancing light interception with resource investment and gas exchange capabilities.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf size mean:

58.63875 cm²

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

69.25 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus laocecarasus is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and distinct morphological traits of its reproductive organs. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable across different months. Once pollination is successful, the plant produces fleshy fruits with an average width of approximately 1 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit significant variation in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.1369 g to a maximum of 0.77 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.256888333333333 g. The seed volume remains highly consistent, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean values recorded at 270 mm³. Regarding its reproductive strategy, the plant utilizes an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds are often spread through human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit width mean:

1 cm

Seed mass max:

0.77 g

Seed mass mean:

0.256888333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.1369 g

Seed volume max:

270 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Prunus laurocerasus has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cyanidin, EO, FAT, Glucosides, HCN.

Cyanidin

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Glucosides

1. Dr. Duke

HCN

1. Dr. Duke

MYRISTIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Mandelonitrile

1. Dr. Duke

Prulaurasin

1. Dr. Duke

Prunasin

1. Dr. Duke

Sambunigrin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Prunus laurocerasus has 301 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypotensive, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

Hypotensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke